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British marine and NCO served with S Battery, 1st Mobile Naval Base Defence Organisation in GB and on Crete, 1940-1941; served with Royal Marines in Egypt, 1941-1942; served with 1st Royal Marine Brigade in India, 1943; served with 33rd Bn Royal Marines in GB, 1944-1945

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REEL 1 Background in Ystradrhondda and Bridgwater, GB, 1918-1940: family; education; employment. Aspects of period a marine with S Battery, 1st Mobile Naval Base Defence Organisation in GB, 1940-1941: enlistment in Royal Marines, 2/1940; training with unit; coastal defence duties with 'S' Battalion near Deal, summer 1940; move to Middle Wallop; move to Yelverton; searchlight duties in Plymouth. Aspects of voyage from GB to South Africa aboard SS Rangitara, 1941: embarkation on River Clyde, 2/1941; sight of 'bum boats' at Freetown, Sierra Leone.
REEL 2 Continues: hospitality of civilians in Natal. Aspects of voyage from South Africa to Egypt aboard SS Costa Rica, 1941: conditions on board; arrival in Egypt. Recollections of operations as NCO with S Battery, 1st Mobile Naval Base Defence Organisation on Crete, 5/1941: voyage from Egypt to Crete aboard Nieuwe Zeeland; arrival at Suda Bay; preparations for German attacks; German Air Force attacks; sight of German airborne assault; dealing with German paratroopers; move to Maleme; move to 42nd Street; retreat to Sphakia.
REEL 3 Continues: assembly of troops at Sphakia; taking message to Colonel Sargent, Royal Marines; attempt to evacuate wounded from Sphakia; prior recollection of digging anti-tank traps during defence of island; German Air Force attack on ambulance at Sphakia; evacuation from Sphakia aboard HMAS Napier; German Air Force attacks on HMAS Napier on route to Alexandria, Egypt; state of warships arriving in Alexandria from Crete evacuation. Aspects of period as marine with Royal Marines in Egypt, 1941-1942: recuperation; airfield defence duties; story of how Royal Australian Air Force pilot offered to fly him back to GB; attitude towards Crete campaign. Aspects of period as marine with 1st Royal Marine Brigade in India and Ceylon, 1943: defence of Ceylon; joining brigade in Bombay, 1943.
REEL 4 Continues: return to Suez, Egypt aboard SS Strathaid, 12/1943. Aspects of period as marine with 33rd Bn, Royal Marines in GB, 1944-1945: arrival in GB, 3/1944; re-training and volunteering for signals work, spring 1944; medical reasons for missing D-Day. 6/1944; joining battalion at Margate; duties as signalman with battalion headquarters at Dalton-in-Furness; move of unit to Belgium and Germany, 1945.

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